A long five-day vacation bridge begins that can well be enjoyed in that touristy canton in the south of the Manabí province.
The giants have already left. The humpback whale watching season officially concluded this month, but with the satisfaction of having registered a high traffic of tourists that filled with enthusiasm the local businesses that are pushing the economic reactivation.
“In 2019 we had about 150,000 tourists, but in 2020 only about 60,000 arrived due to the pandemic”, indicates Ángel Pincay, official of the local Municipality and tour operator. “That year we only worked the first three months, including the carnival holiday. And something moved in the holidays of November and December ”. This 2021 they already exceeded 80,000 tourists, of which 95% are Ecuadorians, which is why they hope to reach 100,000 visitors by the end of the year. “Seen in terms of reactivation, it is a good figure.”
Another detail, adds Pincay, is that the pandemic has reduced the time of stay in the destination, since before it was normal for a family to spend at least three days walking around the canton, but now they only stay one or two days at the end of week.
Ángel was the municipal director of tourism when the pandemic began, and he remembers when On March 20, 2020, a statement came from the Ministry of Tourism to inform that they should close all operations related to this activity, so within a few days there was no visitor in the canton. “Of the 40 registered restaurants, only three or four were open for home delivery.” The recovery began in August with a capacity of 25%, according to the disposition of the national COE.
Of the 81 hotels that existed, 67 managed to resurface, as did the 32 officially registered operators in Puerto López and neighboring Salango. However, seven restaurants closed permanently.
During a recent visit to that town in the south of Manabí, located three hours from Guayaquil, the hotels agreed that they had enjoyed between 70% and 80% occupancy on weekends since July thanks to the thousands of travelers who came to this area. town nestled in a peaceful cove. The giants of the Pacific are gone, but the following reasons remain to make a trip at any time of the year.
1. Try Pacha’s chocolates. The Argentine Verónica Álvarez and the Ecuadorian Ángel Zurita are the charismatic couple that opened Pacha Chocolates in 2012, an enterprise that combines the interests of both (she is a chocolate teacher and his family has always had cocoa farms). They obtain cocoa (of the national or fine aroma type) from small farmers in the Manabi communes of Calderón and El Pital.
“To obtain fine quality cocoa, the process begins on the farm,” says she, who, together with her husband, receive tourists to show them the entire process of making chocolate since they ferment it for six or seven days in wooden boxes. . “The ferment is a very important point in the process, since this way the bitterness is softened,” says Ángel. Then they dry it on clotheslines for a similar time, toast it in an oven and peel it in another machine to obtain the nibs or cocoa nibs. The process continues until the chocolate is obtained in various presentations, such as chocolates and bars. Its premises are located in the Isla de la Plata citadel, av. Machalilla and August 31. They also have a cafeteria at the entrance to the pier, in the south of the town. Contact: 098-202-7351, 05-230-0323.
2. Take advantage of the diversity of operators. The boardwalk of Puerto López brings together a good part of the companies dedicated to the tourist operation, both for walks on land and at sea. Apart from the most requested tours, such as Isla de la Plata and Salango, there are more unique options that are perfectly possible, such as celebrating a birthday on a yacht or taking day and night bird watching tours.
The operators Whale Expedition (099-199-5390) and Rosita Tours (096-886-7452) offer these options, while other companies specialize in diving, such as Explora Diving (099-950-0910). The Palo Santo company (099-546-4860), owned by the biologist Cristina Castro, an expert in cetaceans, is another of the excellent options in the town.
3. Set sail with the ‘toughs’ of sport fishing. Puerto López is a sport fishing destination that is enjoyed through its specialized operators. The departures cost from $ 300 for the boat if the experience takes nearby sites, where chernas, silver croaker and snook are caught, while at a greater distance you can reach places like Bajo Copé and Bajo de Cantagallo to catch wahoo, chernas or tuna. in departures ranging from $ 300.
And further away are the weevils and albacore, at $ 650 or more for the experience, which regularly brings four fishermen together in a boat. Prices may vary depending on the operator and services. A specialist in these tours is Miguel Ángel Plúas (095-988-6824), better known as Captain Blanco, who comes from a family of artisanal fishermen, but is now dedicated to sport fishing. “We are in a very privileged place for this activity,” he says. And get ready to participate in the fishing tournament that the Municipality will organize at the end of January! The contact is Ángel Pincay (099-199-5390).
4. Seek relaxation in hotels. Lodging is a powerful asset in Puerto López. The largest hotels are located in the north, after the bridge that crosses the Pital river. Oceanic, Mandala and Víctor Hugo have rates per couple that start at $ 50 and include pleasant cabins surrounded by gardens.
In addition, the northern beach is much less frequented than the central area, which generates an atmosphere of tranquility that visitors looking for tranquility will surely appreciate. Or you can stay at hotels downtown. They are also cozy, but more urban, with rates ranging from $ 15 per person, although options such as the Pacifico Hotel have special rooms that go up to $ 120 for the couple. Miguel Bonilla, administrator, confirms that the whale watching season generated an important boost to tourism, but that they now want to maintain it in the coming months.
5. Be surprised on the tours to Isla de la Plata. With the end of the whale season, these tours rank as the main option for travelers. The operators installed on the boardwalk provide these tours that last all day, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., approximately, for a fee of $ 45 per person, including the snorkeling.
It is impossible not to be surprised on this journey through rugged trails that pass nests of blue-footed frigates and other birds.
6. Take the tours to the island of Salango. It costs $ 25 and lasts about four hours. It usually has a departure in the morning and another in the afternoon, according to the demand of travelers, to reach that island that allows you to enjoy its wide beach and dives in snorkeling in the middle of a protected underwater landscape.
7. Visit the howler monkey forest. The nearby El Pital commune promotes walks to explore the howler monkey forest through the Guayacán de los Monos, Bola de Oro and La Mocora trails, as part of the Machalilla National Park. Visitors will observe varied vegetation with similar characteristics to the Amazon rainforest on walks or horseback riding operated directly by the community. The observation of the howler monkeys is accompanied by the exuberant flora with bromeliads, tagua, medicinal and timber plants. Contact: 098-945-1939, @ elpital.comuna.
8. Enjoy a dip at Los Frailes beach. It is one of the great attractions of the area. Travelers with their own vehicle can arrive in ten minutes heading north from Puerto López, although it is also a destination commonly requested from the town’s taxi drivers, who charge from $ 10 for the transfer. This spa with white sand and calm waters falls in love with every visitor, national or foreign.
9. Try national and foreign dishes. The dining rooms on the boardwalk and inland streets rule the palate of visitors with fish and shellfish that arrive daily thanks to local fishermen who trade their catch in the market on the south side of the boardwalk.
A place that draws attention due to the number of customers it gathers is the Capuccino restaurant and pizzeria, at the intersection with Calle General Córdova, owned by the Italian Roberto Zumofen, who years ago had a restaurant in Barcelona (Spain), but in u Tourist trip to Ecuador fell in love with a Guayaquil woman, got married and settled in Puerto López eight years ago. “I like it because of the tranquility,” he says. “Many Germans, French, Spanish, Canadians come … who come because they appreciate this rustic atmosphere.” Contact: 098-968-9295.
10. Have a few cocktails watching the sunset. The rustic cabins located on the beach are the right place to enjoy the night on the town’s boardwalk, sipping a mojito, a daiquiri, a piña colada or a grasshopper while watching the nearby breaking of the waves as the sun sets . And at night, music plays in these places to give a special attraction to the experience of visiting one of the most complete tourist destinations in the country.
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
